The Substitute Bride

Chapter 5 (Mother Ina)

Tami scoops the spicy sour catfish from the bowl and then puts it next to the steaming white rice. Already several times he swallowed his saliva when he saw the catfish swimming with kitchen spices on the cauldron. Coupled with a fern stir fry, how delicious. With the spirit of worms that were demoing in his stomach Tami bribed food greedily to not rest even though a grain of rice was on his plate.

"Alhamdulillah, full." said Tami when finished sipping water provided by her mother earlier.

His hands rubbed his stomach which was full. His struggle with his "maintenance" waiting for the fish to ripen is not in vain.

"Mom's taste is the top markotop deh." Tami held her thumb right in front of her mother's face. This habit is often done when he eats the cooking of others. He is a master of eating but he himself is not good at cooking. Therefore he is often an impromptu judge who will try all the food served on the table.

His mother smiled with satisfaction at the sight of her daughter praising his cooking. His mother does have a catering business that he started since Tami was a child, so it is not surprising that he can cook any type of food. This is the benefit of being a child of a catering mother. All the food he could enjoy without spending a fee.

"Mom why don't you eat?" tami asked when she realized that her mother had not even touched a piece of food from the plate in front of her.

"Mother was going to eat, but seeing you eat so well, I felt full first. Moreover, plus your praise, so the fuller Mother." Actually, he was also hungry, but when he saw Tami eating so voraciously, his hunger was diverted to pay attention to Tami. Before the girl returned to her biological family she could spend a lot of time joking, but now just by hearing the news Tami had made her happy. If he misses Tami, he will not tell her and choose to keep her. He does not want Tami to be burdened between sharing time with his biological family and himself.

"Yes, Mommy. Where there are people full just by eating other people eat. Moreover, people who eat the kind of Tami, which is not full, even more drooling."

Tami scoops the rice and a small piece of fish from the plate and then extends it to her mother. His mother was apparently fed to Tami.

"Mother, don't eat. Although not every time Tami can nemenin Mother, but Mother still must take care of health, maintain diet. Don't let my mother's stomach recur again. Tami didn't mean to not want to keep Mom when Mom was sick. If you can, Tami will give the whole world to Mom. Tami just doesn't want you to suffer. Tami wants your old age to be filled with happiness." Tami involuntarily shed her tears, her chest feeling tight.

Slowly the mother's old hands shed tears on her daughter's cheeks. His feelings are so moved at this moment. What a soft and gentle feeling this child. What he said was always full of sincerity and born of the heart. If others might have hated him so much for his past deeds. But Tami, a girl who is always cheerful and never holds a grudge against others. Although not given the opportunity by the power to conceive and bear a child, but God has sent a cooling heart that is able to remove all wounds and suffering. A child who brings happiness to those around him.

"Duh, what a crybaby this Mother's son. That's just crying. There will be no tide in the sea, no rain falling from the sky suddenly Mother's house floods, it's a hassle." I tried so hard to speak as much as possible. She did not want her daughter to realize her grief over her move to her family. He was well aware that if it wasn't for him, Tami wouldn't have had to live with him.

"Yes, already. That's why I eat so much. Just take it twice, you know."

"Don't eat most of it. Later if your body stretched, not a man who wants to be with you how?"

Tami immediately pouted hearing the sentence her mother said.

"Ye, I'm worried about Tami's allure, huh? Gini-gini many who have a crush. Make no mistake, the hospital guards only if you see Tami already like a fish stranded from the sea. Straight on." Tami said proudly.

Not kegeeran but indeed every time Tami met with Mr. Rudi certainly he would be confronted with his deadly flutter that sometimes makes Tami want to vomit all the contents of his stomach. Mr. Rudi also often gave food to him but the food was never up to his stomach because he would definitely give it to Tuti, the mother canteen in the hospital who has long had a heavy crush on Mr. Rudi. Initially Tami's intention was familiar with Mr. Rudi because he wanted to become a matchmaker for Tuti, but in fact the security guard was even the same Baper Tami. Be the one who is troubled to keep Tuti's feelings from getting hurt. Well that's how fate became a beautiful matchmaker.

"But Tami's a good guy, Mom. So Tami nyodorin Pak Rudi for Bu Tuti who has long had a crush on him."

"Hm. Trust me, Mother."

His mother finally gave up too. He knew that his daughter's level of intelligence was as high as the clouds in the sky, so it was difficult to fight.

Tami patted her forehead as she remembered that she had come to visit her mother with a trust. "Oh yes, almost Tami forgot that next month Mama Karina wants to get married, so Mama wants a catering message from Mama alone."

Mother raised her eyebrows, making her forehead wrinkle deeply.

"Don't your mom rent a hotel for a wedding, Karina? How is the catering from Mom? It should be a complete package with food."

"Yes, ma'am, but it's just for the reception. If the wedding is in the mosque near the house. So Mama wants a catering order from Mama. So I cook that is not heavy. How can I not?"

Mom remembers for a moment the catering order list for next month. "God willing, Mother can. It just so happens that the catering message for next month is not too much."

.....

"Assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikummussalam, Yes." reply Tami.

"Oh my goodness, the girl is just in the morning. The feeling is not married yet, so do not need to work rodi until morning. You don't take care of your husband, let alone take care of your child" said Tasya, who saw Tami yawn wide in front of the hospital nurses' dugout.

Tami who heard the tearing of her best friend immediately pursed her lips furiously. Ye, it's just married people who can work rods last night. Kan from the colonial era there is already work roda, his heart murmur.

"Not to bother, like do not know if we are a team that is always ready twenty-four hours to sacrifice our precious rest time to help the lives of others." tami's nagging is long.

His nose sniffed at the clothes Tasya was wearing. From the smell smelled like lavender flowers, exactly the smell of mosquito repellent spray at home. But because of the mixed smell of medicine so the smell changes not because of it.

"Well, what are you doing, me? Why, really good smell?" ask Tasya confidently.

Instead of answering, Tami asked Tasya. "How many people did you meet or pass this morning?"

"I mean, you?" ask Tasya astonished. He did not understand the direction of Tami's conversation.

"I mean that, how many people have fainted when you smell your perfume. If I still hold it, do not know the same other, maybe have entered the ER time" he said heartlessly.

Tasya immediately bent her face hearing Tami's words. "If he knew my struggle to be willing to wait in line to buy perfume that is again a massive discount. Until I was willing to squeeze Mother-Emak. Hikss, the fates of having friends do not have a heart." said Tasya as if talking to himself. Tami immediately shook her head. The dramatic level of the girl started to touch the max stage.

"Everyone should not immediately believe the same product that is labeled as a discount, this is what it will be. Although sprayed one bottle will also not smell fragrant, which there is even a musty smell. Especially with the smell of drugs. Still fragrant mosquito repellent spray in my house." Tasya's facial expression was like someone who was about to hang himself heard the spicy words Tami.

"If you want to attract men do not need to wear smells that can eat arouse male lust. Natural women are better. Mending more prayer and worship so that his soul mate accelerated with God. You do not remember in Surah Al-Isra verse 32, "Tami reached into the phone in his pocket, then opened the application of the Qur'an online. "Now, listen, Allah says, "And do not approach adultery: (zina) it is indeed a heinous deed, and a bad way of money." and the word of the Prophet salallahu alaihi wa sallam: any woman who wears fragrances then passes through a people so that they smell it then the woman has been considered to be adulterous and every eye has an adultery." (HR.An-Nasai ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban)"

Tasya heard Tami carefully.

Astagfirullah.

He is privileged in his heart because without realizing it, he has invited the devil to help increase the number of sins.

"Nih yes, but no one has fainted because of you, mending now you change clothes continue to wear my perfume that is in the locker. But don't do much later I'll tease. Later if your shift is the same as me in the morning, we go to buy perfume in my subscription, how?"

"Yes, I can, but buy it." Tasya put on a face that was deliberately covered, his eyes were also impermeable like a shorting lamp.

"Yes." Yeah."

Although from the outside Tami seems stingy, but actually he has a very good heart.But if the matter of making people discouraged it is indeed his expertise. When it starts talking, the mouth of the ceplosnya ceplosnya will not be able to brake.

Allah does not forbid his servant to beautify himself as long as it is in accordance with His provisions.

"Promise yes, buyin. Watch it not."

Tami patted her forehead when she realized that she had intended to change clothes so she could go home after a day at the hospital.

On the way Tami had imagined how nice it would be to sleep on a soft mattress while enjoying a beautiful dream to meet his soul mate. Wait, what was that? A soul mate? Oh my goodness, I thought about it that way. Naturally, he was now almost twenty-three years old. Maybe because of the effects of fatigue and Tasya's talk that always talks about a mate. That's a pretty sweet kid who wants to get married. The future is still long. Do not want to be hahahhihi like a ghost with his sohibs? If not married can be free to have a crush on anyone can be the same mamang cilok can also be provided that he does not have a joint. But whatever it was he prayed that Tasya would quickly meet his soul mate.

While engrossed in monologuing himself, suddenly the phone in his bag rang so loudly. He marginalized his motorbike near the sidewalk which was quite quiet. Understandably it's almost eleven and a half hours, so people must have reached their respective workplaces. He should have come home from eight this morning, but because there are patients who need to be treated immediately, then he was reluctantly forced to set aside his desire to immediately sleep on the bed.

Tami patted her forehead for the umpteenth time. Ckckck, how could he forget that today he had promised to pick Nala up at school. Still young is senile at the regional level especially if the elderly can be senile at the national level. Quickly he left. Poor Nala must have waited a long time.

Tami ran over to the little girl sitting with a pouting face. Her tiny fingers were busy twisting the bag hanger.

"Assalamu'alaikum, Nala."

"Wa'alaikumussalam." replied Nala with a pouting face.

"It's been a long time, baby?" tami asked with a breath of surprise.

"Ih, Mother Ina really long to pick up Nala. Nala's friends have been picked up by her mother all. Stay Nala herself who has not been picked up." protested Nala with pursed lips.

"Yes that was Bun.." Tami had not yet finished his conversation when a young teacher came to them.

"Mom's gonna go get Nala?" the teacher asked with a sweet smile.

"Yes, I'm gonna go get Nala, Mom. I was so busy that I forgot that Nala was home from school." Tami smiled clumsily. He felt guilty for making Nala wait for him.

"His son's not fussy, ma'am. If the other children must have been crying because they were not picked up." praise the teacher. His hand stroked Nala's head gently.

"We talked about it but haven't met. My name is Tami, but usually Nala calls me Mother Ina because of my long name, Tami nurul sabrina." Tami reached out her right hand to shake hands with the teacher's mother. The smiling teacher greeted his hand.

"I'm Andira Maulydia Pramesti, usually called Dira."

Tami thought for a moment, it seemed like Dira's name was no stranger to her hearing. Where he had heard that name. This Tami guy, uh what's the base? oh yeah, senile base.

"Mother Ina, when are we turning it back? Nala's tired of waiting here since." Nala whines while tugging at the tip of Tami's shirt.

"Yes, baby . We're back now, yeah. Mother Dira, I'm going home first yes, Assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikumussalam's chat. Be careful on the road."

Tami shook hands once more with Dira before she left. Nala did the same. Her tiny hands were waving as Tami's motorbike had already started moving out of the school area, splitting the capital's heavy traffic.

"What do you want to eat, baby?" ask Tami when looking through the food available on the menu list.

"Nala wants to eat ice cream, Mother Ina." Nala answered with a cheerful face. He had forgotten to lash out at Tami a moment ago.

"Nala can't eat ice cream, then get the flu. Pity later Mother sad. Nala want Mommy to be sad?"

"But Nala hasn't had ice cream in a long time, Mother Ina." Nala whines again. Her tone was like wanting to have another snack with Tami. Both of his round eyes were already glazed. At any time can break his cries in this cafe.

Tami breathed for a moment. He finally gave up too. "Yes, then Nala must eat rice first, then we will eat ice cream, yes."

"Horeee, Nala deh more dear Mother Ina." Nala cheered happily. His face was cheerful again, I don't know where the tears that had hung on his eyes.

"Eat it slowly, baby. Don't spill the ice cream on Nala's shirt." Nala just nodded her head making her two ponytails wobble. Her little lips were busy bribing her favorite strawberry ice cream.

"Where are we going, Mother Ina?" nala asked as she finished her ice cream.

"Where do you want it?" Tami asked back. Nala thought for a moment. Suddenly his face turned grim. Her tears just flow. Tami who saw that immediately hugged Nala's trembling shoulder.

"Why cry, baby. Mommy's been talking wrong, huh?" tanya Tami was confused by Nala's fickle attitude. He wiped away Nala's tears that didn't stop flowing like a leaking faucet.

Nala shook her head strongly. "No, Mother Ina did not say anything wrong." said Nala while sobbing.

"Why does Nala cry? Try the same story Mother Ina." persuaded Tami.

"Usually if times like this, Nala will play with Mbah, but now Mbah has gone far, so Nala can not play again with Mbah." tears were pouring down her little cheeks in light of the departure of her altar facing the Divine a year ago.

The diners stared at them questionnaires. Tami just smiled at them and then again tried to persuade Nala.

"Nala don't cry anymore yes, later Mbah in heaven will also be sad. How if today Mother Ina ngajak Nala met a new Mbah. Wouldn't you?"

Nala's round eyes full of tears stared at Tami full of question marks. "That's Mother Ina?"

"Just answer, whether you want it or not."

"Yes, Nala wants to."

"Nala don't cry anymore. I'm going to see a new Mbah." Tami rubbed Nala's tears with tissue.

They then moved out of the chair to leave. While almost at the door, Nala accidentally bumped into a man. Nala quickly apologized to the man.

"Sorry, Om. Nala was unintentional." said Nala timidly. Tami also apologized to the man.

"It's okay." the man replied with a sweet smile at Nala.

"Tami, what's the matter here?" ask someone from the side.

Tami turned to the source of the voice. His lips smiled broadly when he saw who had asked earlier.

"Mas Keen! Tami came here to eat with Nala."

Keenan's eyebrows are drawn upwards. Implies confusion is undermining it.

"Nala? Your kid? Why didn't you tell me you had a child?" ask Keenan streak.